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Conservatives seek control of Kansas Senate

Conservative Republicans are hoping to take control of the Kansas Senate.

And the first step in that process includes challenges by several conservative Republican candidates against incumbent Republicans in the Aug. 5 primary.

Iris Van Meter is challenging state Sen. Dwayne Umbarger of Thayer, who is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

And Tom Arpke is challenging state Sen. Pete Brungardt of Salina, who is chairman of the Senate State and Federal Affairs Committee.

Van Meter won election to the State Board of Education in 2002 and was among the conservative majority on the board that approved science standards critical of evolution and hired conservative Bob Corkins as education commissioner. She didn't run for re-election to the board in 2006.

Arpke is chairman of the Saline County Republican Party.

Other conservatives challenging incumbents include Andrew Evans against Ruth Teichman of Stafford, who is chair of the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee; Jerry Clinton against John Vratil of Leawood, who is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and vice president of the Senate; and Paul Barkey against Mark Taddiken of Clifton, who is chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

There are several other races where conservative Republicans are trying to win open seats or will face a Democrat incumbent in November.

Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, also faces a primary challenge but the conservative Kansas Republican Assembly has not made an endorsement in that race.

Republicans hold a 30-10 advantage in the Senate, and Morris, who is considered a moderate, was elected president by a 17-13 vote of the Senate GOP caucus. So, a change in the ranks of Republicans could put conservatives in the leadership positions of the Senate.

By Scott Rothschild

July 16, 2008

Statehouse Briefing